Kevin Thompson Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Don't worry, Tim. Regardless of how I try to describe the color, we all know how it's supposed to be. Everyone's eyes see things a bit differently. We know that the early A6Ms were darker or "more olive" than what was thought say, 30 years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
timc Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Don't worry, Tim. Regardless of how I try to describe the color, we all know how it's supposed to be. Everyone's eyes see things a bit differently. We know that the early A6Ms were darker or "more olive" than what was thought say, 30 years ago. That's definitely true. There's no white zero's, nor purple-rose Rufe's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Thompson Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 What is interesting with regards to your comment on the Rufe, is that there is an often-seen black and white aerial photo of two Rufes in formation, with one in the early overall color, and the other in the two-tone scheme with the dark green uppers. The overall lighter colored Rufe has white surrounds on the hinomarus, which is curious to me, as I've never seen an early plane in the color we were discussing with the white surround on the insignia, with the exception of the currently flying restored aircraft seen in a pic several posts back. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
timc Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 (edited) The 75mm white surround on the fuselage Hinomaru only, was used by Nakajima on the overall olive-grey aircraft as an identifier to distinguish the Nakajima built A6M2 Model 21 from the Mitsubishi built A6M2 Model 21. It was used on the A6M2 Model 21's and the A6M2N. I don't have an answer as to why some of the A6M2N's don't have the 75mm white surround to the Hinomaru other than possibly it was painted out or that the 75mm identifier was added after production started and some aircraft were delivered without the white surround or conversely, the application of the 75mm white surround was dropped some time during the production run. If all the Hinomaru have white surrounds then it's most likely a field applied modification as I have not yet seen an overall olive-grey aircraft with white surrounds on all topside Hinomaru from factory photos. Edited January 24, 2014 by timc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan Toews Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Hello Gentlemen, I know I am coming late to the party, but please let me add a few details to what Tim has said. Nakajima only began to apply he white surround to the fuselage hinomaru in late August 1942. Thus before this date the appearance of the fuselage markings would be identical on both manufacturer's Zeros. That also is why the very early A6M2-Ns are pictured with the plain fuselage hinomaru. The wing hinomaru remained without any white surround until the beginning of factory applied dark-green upper-surface camo. (Note though, that in some instances field-camoed Zeros had a white surround added to the hinomaru - 204 Kokutai in particular adhered to this practice.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
timc Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 Hello Gentlemen, I know I am coming late to the party, but please let me add a few details to what Tim has said. Nakajima only began to apply he white surround to the fuselage hinomaru in late August 1942. Thus before this date the appearance of the fuselage markings would be identical on both manufacturer's Zeros. That also is why the very early A6M2-Ns are pictured with the plain fuselage hinomaru. The wing hinomaru remained without any white surround until the beginning of factory applied dark-green upper-surface camo. (Note though, that in some instances field-camoed Zeros had a white surround added to the hinomaru - 204 Kokutai in particular adhered to this practice.) Thanks for that explanation Ryan. I knew there had to be some reason that some had the surround while others did not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dahut Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Way off topic but I haven't found my answer elsewhere. If I was painting a Tojo in the green color usually seen, which should I choose? Maybe a reference? (I'm pooped looking on this dinky iPhone..) Thank you and sorry for the hijack Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Good article on Aotake: LINK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan-Pawel Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Good Evening Gentlemen, I think I'm lucky to find that topic. I have two Airfix Zero in my stash (the new tool, the "basic" edition and the starter set edition with paint and glue). In the first box, Airfix provides markings for an aircraft painted in a two tone camo (dark green and... " a light color"), while in the second box, we have an aircraft in "a light color" overall... About that "light color", Airfix recommends to use the Humbrol n°90. Humbrol calls it "Beige Green". For me, it's a very light green color (but "beige" in general seems to not be easy to define - yellow, green, brown...). I tried some research about IJN colors... So, some said the "light color" was a grey-green shade, other said it's a caramel color (a modeler suggested a 1:1 mix of light grey H41 and Hemp H168). We also have "pistachio" ! But what Airfix propose with that pale green is a plausible option ? I have a book about Tanaka Katsuyori's models. It's all in japanese but the Zero A/C seems to be painted in a pale green color. And about the engine cover, for a Mitsubishi-build aircraft, a 1:1 mix of black and midnight blue is OK ? (if it's supposed to be a blue-black color ?) It's horrible to be stuck because of these small things ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan-Pawel Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 Nobody ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gocoogs Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 (edited) I'm not very familiar with Humbrol paints, but just based on a quick internet search I would say that 90 is far too green. Edited March 14, 2017 by gocoogs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan-Pawel Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 It seems that people prefer Tamiya's range. I just discovered that Airfix will re-release their new Zero with a new box-art and a new paint scheme option. Here, the color suggested will be Satin Hemp (n°168). Which is rather a light brown shade. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gocoogs Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 That's closer, imo. Here's a Fine Molds A6M2 that was painted with White Ensign Colourcoats Mitsubishi Zero Grey-Green. http://www.aviationofjapan.com/2015/09/zbyszek-malickis-172-a6m2.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sakai Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 8 hours ago, Jan-Pawel said: It seems that people prefer Tamiya's range. I just discovered that Airfix will re-release their new Zero with a new box-art and a new paint scheme option. Here, the color suggested will be Satin Hemp (n°168). Which is rather a light brown shade. Any greenish cast of this early Zero IJNAF "hai-iro" J3 standard overal color is caused by lighting perception a.k.a. metamerism and was due to very little contents of blue pigment in predominantly neutral gray (50-50 black and white pigment) with some yellow ochre. Best verbal description is olive gray. No gray-GREEN (as certain "researched" has been yelling all over cyber space) neither "pistacchio". This paint was based on license for German paint for light metal alloys, not far off RLM02, was of high quality and glossy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gocoogs Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Another option worth considering is AK Interactive's IJN acrylic set. A review: http://www.partworkmodels.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=173&t=7242 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan-Pawel Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Thank you for your answers. The AK Interactive paints set seems to be interesting. However, I have drawers full of paints. Maybe just to buy the blue-black and the bamboo green for to try the paint. Otherwise, I fear that to buy the full set won't be reasonnable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anj4de Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Hi all Joinig in here now as well... I watched the "Zero" movie on Amazon last night...then started looking for a 1/48 model and found the Tamiya limited Edition with the movie decals...ordered! ;-) Started reading on Hasegawa's earlier models and hence ordered on of those... I have built the 1/32 Tamiya Zero when it first came out...OOB...and it was a pure pleasure and an eye opener back then but I have not build a Zero ever since...so now it will happen! cheers Uwe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 (edited) Hello, Visit this site for a wealth of information. I used their color matching on my Zero. Dai http://www.j-aircraft.com/ Edited May 23, 2020 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scrodes Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 I've accepted model master's SAC Bomber Tan as a perfect match Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Cool, Very nicely done Zero. I like the base you came up with for the final revile. Take care, Mr.Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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